Deflecting element having a switchable liquid crystalline material

Abstract

A deflecting element (1) includes a first substrate (3) and a second substrate (5). The two substrates (3) and (5) enclose a liquid crystalline material (7) which is switchable. A surface (13) of one of the substrates (3) facing the liquid crystalline material (7) is provided with a grating structure (15). The other substrate (5) is provided with a plurality of microlenses (21) on a surface (23) facing the liquid crystalline material (7).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A deflecting element comprising a first substrate and a second substrate enclosing a liquid crystalline material which is switchable, a surface of one of the substrates facing the liquid crystalline material being provided with a grating structure, characterized in that the other substrate is provided with a plurality of microlenses on a surface facing the liquid crystalline material. 
     
     
       2. A set of two deflecting elements as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the grating lines of the grating in the first deflecting element and the grating lines of the grating in the second deflecting element are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
       3. An optical deflector having a plurality of entrance channels whose exits are located in an entrance plane and a plurality of exit channels whose entrances are located in an exit plane, characterized in that a deflecting element as claimed in claim 1 is present between the entrance plane and the exit plane. 
     
     
       4. An optical deflector having a plurality of entrance channels whose exits are located in an entrance plane and a plurality of exit channels whose entrances are located in an exit plane, characterized in that a set of deflecting elements as claimed in claim 2 is present between the entrance plane and the exit plane.